Dissertation Research: Biomechanics and Ontogeny of Phalangeal Curvature in Catarrhine Primates

这项研究的目的是调查导致高等灵长类动物指骨（手指和脚趾的骨头）弯曲的因素。在运动中经常抓树枝的灵长类动物比在地面上行走的灵长类动物有更多弯曲的趾骨。因此，指骨在历史上对解释包括早期人类祖先在内的化石物种的行为非常有用。然而，我们不了解1)树木运动力学的哪些方面导致指骨弯曲以及2)弯曲是如何发展的。这项研究将结合新的分析（例如，有限元分析）和数据采集（例如，压力传感器垫，尸体上的应变计）技术，通过比较活的树栖和陆生灵长类动物在运动时如何使用他们的手来测试关于指骨曲率的现有假设。最后，关于如何解释原始形态的争论，对于所有对化石形态重建行为感兴趣的古生物学家来说都很重要，将通过检查指骨曲率是否在生长过程中对所经历的负荷作出反应而发展，或者曲率是否仅仅是“系统发育的包袱”来解决。

The goal of this research is to investigate the factors responsible for curvature in the phalanges (the bones of the fingers and toes) in higher primates. Primates that regularly grip branches during movement appear to have more curved phalanges than those that walk on the ground. As such, finger bones have historically been very useful for interpreting behavior in fossil species, including early human ancestors. However, we do not understand 1) what aspects of the mechanics of arboreal locomotion lead to phalangeal curvature and 2) how curvature develops. This research will incorporate new analytical (i.e., finite element analysis) and data acquisition (i.e., pressure sensor pads, strain gauges on cadavers) techniques to test existing hypotheses regarding phalangeal curvature by comparing how living arboreal and terrestrial primates use their hands during locomotion. Finally, the debate over how to interpret primitive morphology, important to all paleontologists interested in the reconstruction of behavior from fossil morphology, will be addressed by examining whether or not phalangeal curvature develops in response to loads experienced during growth or whether curvature is merely `phylogenetic baggage`.